Speaking about the rapid pace of technological and organisational change, Dr. Zode highlighted adaptability, resilience, emotional intelligence, coordination and human connection as key capabilities for the workforce of the future. He also stressed the need for stronger industry-academia collaboration to keep management education aligned with changing business realities.

Held on the theme “The Future of Industries: What Will Shape Tomorrow’s World?”, Utkarsh 8.0 brought together senior HR professionals and industry leaders to discuss artificial intelligence, automation, emerging industries, changing business models, future skills, reskilling, leadership and evolving employee expectations.

Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur, in his Welcome Address, highlighted the scale at which technology is transforming industries. Referring to developments such as 3D printing and artificial intelligence, he stressed the need for organisations to view technological disruption as an opportunity and build a growth-oriented, data-driven workforce.

Prof. Alok Kumar Singh, Dean – Executive Education, IIM Nagpur, presented an overview of the institute’s Executive Education programmes and highlighted IIM Nagpur’s growing engagement with working professionals and organisations. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between industry and academia.

The conclave featured three broad panels covering Emerging Industries, Automation and the Workforce of 2035; Customer Expectations, New-Age Business Models and Changing Talent Requirements; and Future-Proof Careers, Reskilling, Leadership and Employee Experience.

The discussions featured industry leaders including Dr. Charu Jain, Mr. Asit Khuntia, Mr. Rushad Shah, Ms. Prakriti Mehta, Ms. Deepshikha Thakur, Ms. Ruchi Mago, Ms. Nupur Jain, Ms. Samriti Malhotra, Mr. Ashish Banka, Ms. Reessha Chughh, Ms. Aditi Mukherjee, Ms. Mrunal Mahakal, Ms. Urvashi Gupta, Mr. Subhanish Malhotra, Mr. Atul Mishra, Mr. Sushil Barkur, Ms. Megha Thapar, Mr. Arun Pratap Singh, Mr. Indranil C, Mr. Vishal Saxena, Mr. Suhas Paradkar, Mr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Ms. Rajbir Kaur, Ms. Nishi Srivastava, Mr. Meghesh Nandi, Ms. Vrinda Parasnis, Ms. Deepti Mehta, Mr. Kabir Gaikwad, Mr. Hari Menon and Mr. Shibu Singh.

Mr. DK Bakshi, Chief Mentor & CEO, Global Talent Company, delivered the concluding lecture, offering a forward-looking perspective on workforce planning and the disruptions organisations may face in the coming decade.

A key message emerging from the conclave was that AI and automation are changing work rather than simply eliminating jobs. As technology and business models evolve, organisations and employees will need to continuously develop new skills, while adaptability, leadership, resilience and emotional intelligence will remain critical.

Prof. Shailendra Nigam, Chairperson – Placements, IIM Nagpur, was also present along with faculty members, staff and students. Mr. Rahul Chaturvedi, Placement Officer, IIM Nagpur, delivered the Vote of Thanks.

Utkarsh 8.0 provided IIM Nagpur students an opportunity to interact with industry practitioners and understand contemporary challenges facing organisations, while reinforcing the importance of sustained industry-academia engagement in preparing future managers for a rapidly changing world of work.

With the right skills, young people can become competent individuals and be able to play an important role in society and the workplace. Leadership skills, ability to communicate, willingness to think critically and solve problems, etc., are important for young people to deal with problems and strive for their success in an environment of change.

The emergence of artificial intelligence and new technologies has significantly changed the skills landscape, adding the need for digital literacy and technology fluency for the workers of the future. However, while technology can carry out certain tasks, the real leaders will still be the ones who combine technology with human qualities needed for successful leaders.

In response to these changes, WeSchool is training professionals for the future through experiential education, collaborations with various industries, projects and initiatives in entrepreneurship, and a decentralised approach through the REDX Innovation Lab. The focus is also on the teaching of the principles of design thinking, readiness for artificial intelligence, leadership, and critical and analytical thinking.

It is important to understand that entrepreneurial thinking has become another crucial skill of Generation Y. The skill of recognising opportunities and taking action allows young people to become innovators who can drive change in the economy and society.